Defensive coordinator Dan Quinn has led a dramatic turnaround for the Dallas Cowboys defense since joining the staff in 2021, guiding the unit from the league’s bottom ranks to one of the league’s most aggressive and opportunistic groups.
After being courted by several teams for their head coach openings over the last two off-seasons, Quinn returns for a third season with Dallas, eager to help his unit take the next step and solidify its identity.
“Any good defense or any good team better have an identity,” he told Dallas’ 105.3 The Fan on Wednesday. “When all of our friends and family and people watch us play, they better know exactly what it looks like. It should be a team that’s ball-hawking [and] tackling. That’s where some of the toughness comes from…the way and the attitude that you tackle.”
Since Quinn joined the team, the Cowboys have embraced that toughness, and their tackling and ability to cause turnovers have improved. In 2020, Dallas had the 28th-ranked defense in the NFL, a -3 turnover differential, and 102 missed tackles. In two seasons under Quinn, the team has finished among the top two defenses in causing turnovers with a combined +24 differential and missed just 64 tackles last season.
The rise of the Dallas defense has coincided with an infusion of young talent to the roster. Recent draft picks like Micah Parsons, Trevon Diggs, and Donovan Wilson have embodied the attitude and toughness Quinn preaches.
Parsons has become one of the elite defenders in the NFL in a short time and has continued to improve this offseason, according to Quinn.
“He was already really talented, and now he’s getting even more skill to match that,” Quinn explained. “You’re seeing this jump that’s taken place. As a young guy coming in, he was super gifted and had great explosiveness, but now his hand use is so much better [and] his knowledge of what to see is getting better. That’s the thing that has jumped out to me is just adding the skill work at the line of scrimmage, especially with his hands, to really be used as weapons.”
Wilson, meanwhile, has developed into a good safety that can be deployed in different ways throughout the secondary.
“He’s one of our best hitters, one of our best tacklers, and we put him in those spaces to do that,” Quinn remarked.
Diggs has exemplified the qualities of the quintessential ball-hawking player that Quinn wants at the corner position, amassing 17 interceptions through his first three seasons. While most will agree his ball skills are superior to most other corners, Quinn wants him to improve his technique and learn from veterans like Stephon Gilmore.
“Having a guy like Steph here has been really good for Tre so far this offseason,” Quinn noted. “They already had a connection together prior to Steph joining the team…Having that type of connection and seeing that bond build as we’re going has been really cool to see.”
Gilmore, acquired via an offseason trade with the Indianapolis Colts, is one veteran that has influenced the team in a short time. Several coaches have praised him for his attitude, work ethic, and leadership, primarily helping guide the young defenders on the roster.
“He’s a great teammate,” Quinn said. “One of the first things I noticed was him talking to a receiver about a route or a release. He’s not somebody who just keeps all the info to himself. If there’s something to share on the defensive side of the ball, he will, and it’s the same on the offensive side.”
With those guys among the players leading the charge, Quinn hopes to bring the other offseason additions and young players up to speed so they can contribute and strengthen his defense.
“We’ve had a few guys here that have been together for going into our third year together,” Quinn explained. “That connection, that toughness, [and] that competitiveness does go around the room. For the new guys coming in…they’re trying to prove that and say, ‘Yeah, I’m part of that group.'”
Two of those young defenders that have stood out to Quinn this offseason are defensive backs Nahshon Wright and Kelvin Joseph.
“I’m proud of both of them for this offseason that they’ve thrown to make sure that they’ve really put the work in to say, ‘Hey, I want to show where I can get better, and I want to prove that,'” Quinn said. “That’s usually some of the best moments when you really bust your [butt] to go through it.”
While Wright has stayed as an outside corner, Dallas has been working Joseph in a dual role.
“We’ve played him at two positions, and he’s really handled that challenge well — to be inside and outside,” Quinn told 105.3 the Fan.”He’s such a strong guy that we thought, ‘This is a person who could be the slot and certainly handle some stuff well.”
The performance of the Cowboys’ defense has played a significant role in the team’s overall improvement and ability to make the playoffs each of the last two seasons. While Quinn has had opportunities elsewhere, he wanted to return to finish what he started.
“I couldn’t be more pumped,” Quinn declared. “There’s so many cool things ahead for this team, and I definitely want to be a part of it.”
***
EXTRA POINTS
— Trevon Diggs confronted quarterback Dak Prescott after a play during Tuesday’s training camp practice.
–Cowboys running back Ronald Jones is saying medication for his heart is to blame for his two-game suspension.
— Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp is expected to miss time with a hamstring injury.
–New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara is scheduled to meet with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on Wednesday, and the NFL Network reports he is expected to be suspended over a fight that occurred in Las Vegas.